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My ADHD founder toolbox

hypatia.ca

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Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#181

Post by herbst »

rastamutta wrote: post #174

The fact that everyone is diagnosed with adhd and then given amphetamines is going to be the medical scandal of this century. I have several friends who have become unbearable due to being constantly high, one of them quit their job and is now unemployed and alone, unable to function in crowds. Of course they all report that they feel great on the speed!

Ritalin comes with weird side effects. My partner changed quite a bit in a short time until she herself couldn't stand it anymore. Mostly because the libido died and left a thumb feeling.

So she switched to better amphetamines (Dextro) and side effects turned away. Leaving only the positive, expected, effects essentially.

I took a lot of amphetamines in my life. But Ritalin is the only one I can't stand myself on. It's like a neuroleptic is packaged in (I know it isn't) but it makes so thumb and cold. IMO

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#182

Post by BiteCode_dev »

nyanpasu64 wrote: post #3

I tried signing up for Inflow, but noped out when it asked to fill out survey questions and supply an email address.

Not only it's counter productive to engage adhd people, which makes me question their legitimity, but it's manipulative. It's textbook commitment increase to convert a lead into a paying customers. Doesn't feel they put the care in health care.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#183

Post by sph »

resonious wrote: post #128
yc-kraln wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was diagnosed when I was six, and, like you, I dropped all meds at 17. Recently (as in, this year) through a combination of therapy and introspection, I realized that while indeed I was able to have a successful life, career, relationships without the medication, and that, yes, my coping mechanisms were satisfactory, I was punching myself in the face for no reason Last month I saw a psychiatrist and got a prescript…

One interesting point about stimulant meds: they also help people who don't have the ADHD diagnosis. The black market for stimulants is pretty sizeable, not to mention the legit market for things like coffee.

Coffee brightens the person that has had 8 hours sleep too.

But indubitably, the person on 2 hours needs it much more.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#184

Post by herbst »

Many people here write about trying or hoping to be normal. Do you realize how man founders and extraordinary people have or had ADHD?

How about not getting normal, but finding a life/work that fits to you and your lifestyle.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#185

Post by flakeoil »

mtsr wrote: post #140
biggerChris wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

The graveyards filled with former hobbies that many with ADHD can attest to tell a different story. One where perseverance through frustration is not only relevant to one’s career, but possibly also one’s happiness. Sure, acceptance of the limited arc of concentration and limited frustration tolerance is essential. But that doesn’t preclude people being happier when they become able to actually stick to things for a…

The issue with your reasoning is that what you describe is not ADHD. It's not a decease. It's nothing wrong. It's normal. It's human.

It's pathetic to read about how people take drugs or want to take drugs because they have difficulties to focus on reading a book or focusing on a hobby or a boring job.

Sure there are people who really have issues and really have ADHD, but in those cases it's pretty obvious.

People want to take pills against obesity. People want to take pills to improve concentration. The easy path. Why not instead try regular exercise and >8h sleep per night? And no alcohol and drugs.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#186

Post by Kinrany »

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #51

I diagnosed when I was like... 8 years old. From then to 17 I was on various meds, finally gave them all up. So for about 22 years I've coped with ADHD without meds. I am a Staff Engineer and make a good living, respected in my field. Regardless of anything else, I think the key thing to remember about ADHD is that you do not need to be a high-performing human being, at all, in life. You will forget things and get di…

This may solve the associated psychological issues for people that have them but does not help with the executive issues.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#187

Post by isolli »

yc-kraln wrote: post #62
throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #51

I diagnosed when I was like... 8 years old. From then to 17 I was on various meds, finally gave them all up. So for about 22 years I've coped with ADHD without meds. I am a Staff Engineer and make a good living, respected in my field. Regardless of anything else, I think the key thing to remember about ADHD is that you do not need to be a high-performing human being, at all, in life. You will forget things and get di…

I was diagnosed when I was six, and, like you, I dropped all meds at 17. Recently (as in, this year) through a combination of therapy and introspection, I realized that while indeed I was able to have a successful life, career, relationships without the medication, and that, yes, my coping mechanisms were satisfactory, I was punching myself in the face for no reason Last month I saw a psychiatrist and got a prescript…

I know exactly how you feel, but I there is a bigger question: how well do these medications do in the medium term (counted in months)? I have read people testify how the initial boost evaporates, and when things come back to normal, they have to either continue the drug for not much benefit or face withdrawal.

Edit: to clarify, I'm not telling anyone not to try medication. Everyone's response will be different. Just beware of the initial euphoria.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#188

Post by 0o_o0 »

baby wrote: post #141
throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #51

I diagnosed when I was like... 8 years old. From then to 17 I was on various meds, finally gave them all up. So for about 22 years I've coped with ADHD without meds. I am a Staff Engineer and make a good living, respected in my field. Regardless of anything else, I think the key thing to remember about ADHD is that you do not need to be a high-performing human being, at all, in life. You will forget things and get di…

As a noob, can you guys give me an idea of what it is to live with ADHD? My understanding is that focus is a spectrum and different people are on different spots on that spectrum. I always imagine that something becomes a condition and gets a name (like ADHD) once it becomes an issue in your life and prevents you from functioning in society. When I hear that you're a staff engineer it sorts of tells me that it's not…

It feels normal. Until you talk to more people and realize you aren’t normal and you don’t actually suck and you might be able to get it together and have a reasonable life if you chain yourself to daily meds and sleep enough and exercise enough and have routines and build 20 other environmental tweaks, guardrails, and micro habits.

There’s some breakdown between wanting things and being able to do them. Wanting to do the things but letting down everyone (teachers, friends, family, self). The thing you can’t do might be chores (frustrated that the house is a mess but unable to make it not a mess), keeping up with friends or family (never keeping in touch enough), hobbies (never able to focus long enough to really make progress), work (continuing to function after the initial learning curve wears off), being able to focus long enough to read books you want to read, having conversations with people who prefer to have one conversation at a time instead of four, listening patiently and not interrupting as someone continues explaining the thing you picked up on after their fifth word and they’re on their fifth sentence now…

Everything falls apart slowly and it’s easy to get frustrated with yourself and lose hope. Meds help but being chained to them is a shitty feeling too. They’re a pain to get and require frequent check-ins as stimulants are controlled substances in the USA. The other non-medicine interventions all help in little ways that add up too.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#189

Post by isolli »

sedivy94 wrote: post #150
Skgqie1 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with this. For me, the energy is because I have to use less energy doing basic day to day shit. Unmedicated, it takes far more effort and work, and leaves less energy for later tasks.

It’s amphetamine. The energy is from the amphetamine. The mechanism of action (norepinephrine and dopamine reputable inhibition) isn’t far from that of cocaine or methamphetamine. Let’s be real here. Amphetamine is known to skew one’s self assessment of their performance while on the drug.

But it's not only perception. If at the end of the day you have done things as opposed to not done things, then the performance improvement is real.

Re: My ADHD founder toolbox

#190

Post by dymk »

rastamutta wrote: post #174

The fact that everyone is diagnosed with adhd and then given amphetamines is going to be the medical scandal of this century. I have several friends who have become unbearable due to being constantly high, one of them quit their job and is now unemployed and alone, unable to function in crowds. Of course they all report that they feel great on the speed!

They sound like they’re not managing their ADHD well and could use adjusted medication and therapy.

Hopefully their friends are supportive of them and not secretly denying the existence of their disease.

Because wow, that’d be really abhorrent of those friends.

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